Choosing A Safe

Choosing A Safe

When it comes to choosing a safe there is a lot to think about, but here at JR Lock and Secure we try to make the process as easy as possible for you.

So how do you get the right one for you?

Just follow these 7 steps.

Step 1. What type of things are you trying to protect?

Have a think about the types of items you want to protect.

There are three basic Categories;

1. Electronic Data.2. Documents.3. Cash and Valuables.

Electronic Data.

If you need to securely store hard drives, CDs/DVDs, SD cards or any other form of electronic data then you are going to need a specific Data Safe. These are designed to protect your data in the event of a fire. They have two sets of doors to protect against smoke and water damage as well as offering protection against magnetic fields and electrostatic phenomena.

Documents.

The main consideration when thinking about protecting your documents whether at home or in your business is the amount you need to store.​For home storage its going to be things like your passports, mortgage/ letting papers, car log books, insurance details, etc. A small Fire Rated safe is perfect for keeping all these things safe in the event of a fire.For business storage you may need to think about a FireRated filling cabinet. This is the perfect solution to keeping your document organised and protected at the same time.

Cash and Valuable.

Protecting your cash and valuable is considered the number one reason to get a safe, and this is where it can get confusing. There are hundreds out there to choose from, Cash Rated, Fire Rated, Cash and Fire Rated, Free Standing, Cupboard Safe, Floor Safe, Underfloor Safe, Wall Safe, Deposit Safe, Gun Cabinets. Then there is what type of lock, Electronic Lock, Key Lock, Biometric Lock, Mechanical Combination Lock. But don't let this put you off we are here to help.

Step 2. Speak to your Insurance Company.

It doesn't matter if this is for you home or business this should be the first thing you do!

Give your insurance company a call and tell them that you are considering getting a safe and tell them what you want to store and the value of any cash, jewellery and other items that you are thinking of keeping in it.

Why do you need to do this?

In some case's your insurance company will specify the rating that your safe needs to be in terms of a Cash Rating or Grade so that you get the correct insurance on your cash, antiques, jewellery etc. They may also tell you what Type of safe is suitable.

A Cash Rating/Grade is a level of cover that an underwriter will give to the contents of the safe. A general rule of thumb is multiply the Cash Rating by 10 times for valuables, jewellery, etc. The higher the Cash Rating/Grade the greater level of security the safe will offer.

It is very important to be honest with the amount and types of items that you want to store. If you don't and the worst happens then you may not be covered.

This will give you a good start to finding what Type of safe is best for you.

Step 3. What Type of safe is right for you?

So now we know what Grade and Category of safe you need, but what about Type.

There are a few to choose from.

Free Standing- These are the most popular choice. They stand on the floor and are bolted either to the floor or to the wall.

Cupboard Safe- Smaller then Free Standing but can also be bolted to the floor or wall.

Floor Safe/Underfloor Safe/Wall Safe- Concealed safes in the floor or wall. Not as convenient to use as Free Standing and Cupboard safes and are more expensive to fit. They are great for security as they are hidden out of site.

Deposit Safe- Used in businesses where staff do not have access to the contents of the safe but can still put money in by way of a slot or draw.

Gun Cabinets- Required if keeping certain firearms. Talk to your local police or shooting club for the type required and safe storage of any firearms and ammunition.

Step 4. How much room are you going to need?

Think about the size of safe that you are going to need. When doing this think about what you are going to need not just now but for years to come. After all a good quality safe should outlast most of us. A good way is to list all the things you are going to keep in it and get an approximate size. Then add 40% to this for future items. Its better to have a safe a little bigger then needed then to be too small.

Check the internal measurements of the safe against what size you need.

The internal and external measurements of a safe can be greatly different depending on what Grade and type of safe you are after.

Step 5. Where are you going to keep the safe?

When thinking about where you are going to put your safe you need to take some things into consideration depending on the Type of safe you are having.

Free Standing/Cupboard – These are best secured to a solid surface. A concrete floor is ideal to give you the best fixing. Think about putting it some where out of view. Check that the area you have chose is of suitable size to allow the safe to be fitted. Remember to take into consideration how far the hinges/handle/keypad are going to protrude and also how much room you need to open the safe door.

Underfloor Safe – These will need to be buried into the ground and fitted in the correct manor. Reinforced concrete should be used. You should have the area that you want it installed surveyed first to make sure there are no pipes or cables in the way. The hole that is needed to install this Type of safe is usually twice as big as the safe. These can then be hidden from view in various different ways with flooring. Remember once installed you are going to need to be on your hands and knees to use this safe so they are not recommended to every one.

Wall Safe – You need to make sure that the wall it is going to be installed in is thick and strong enough to be able to give adequate security. It is also important to make sure that there is no access to the safe from the outside.

Deposit Safe – These are best secured to a concrete surface. They need to be in a area that your staff can get to, but out the way of customers or visitors to your business.

Gun Safe – These are usually bolted to the wall. So a good strong wall is required. Your local police should be able to advise you on the best location depending on your circumstances.

Step 6. What kind of Locking Mechanism do you want?

You have a few choices here. Which one is right depends on your requirements.

Key Locking.Pros - These are the most reliable and are usually the cheapest option. They come as standard on most safes. These are great if its only one or two person(s) who need access.Cons - The keys can be bulky to carry around and are easy to loose or misplace especially if the safe is only used occasionally.

Mechanical Combination Lock.Pros – Very reliable locks. More then one person can have access to the safe combination.

Cons – Can be difficult to use. The combination can easily be forgot. You have to be very precise on the dialling of the combination.

Electronic Safe Lock.Pros – Convenient. Electronic locks can offer lots of features including multiple users codes, single use codes, audit trails, time delays and can be linked to alarm systems. They can either be Pin Code, Biometric or even Iris Scan operated.Cons – Cheap electronic locks offer very low security and should be avoided. Pin codes can easily be forgot. They usually run off batteries.

Step 7.

Now you have all your requirements give JR Lock and Secure a call to discuss your needs. We will make sure that you get the safe that is right for you. We work closely with our suppliers to get you the best possible price.Please visit there websites to view the range of safes that are on offer.